AND THE WINNER'S ARE -

Several readers of my blog have asked me to show the winner's at the Maryland State Fair. Unfortunately I did not get to go to the fair this year, however, I have been told by several members of the Mason/Dixon chapter of ATHA that there were twice as many rugs shown this year as last. I think that really speaks well for the interest in hooked rugs.

I entered 4 rugs and 1 pillow in the fair this year. I try to enter more than one piece each year, depending on my yearly output. I felt that only two of my pieces were possible winners this year. I was in a state of shock when I learned that all 5 pieces had won blue ribbons!! So you asked to see them and here they are: This pillow is a Pearl McGown pattern. It is mounted with a green velvet backing and a gold braid trim.

I took this closeup of the pansy because pansies often are difficult to hook. I am very grateful to my friend, Linda Keller, for mounting this pillow for me since I am not a sewer. Thank you, Linda.

This rug was entered in the Folk Art Category. I am sorry that the color looks faded in this photo. The background is a really rich purple/burgandy color and is made up of 6 different wools.

This is a close up of the center of the rug. The lower set of leaves I put in in place of the heart that was in the original design. I did not want to sign the rug or put a name in the heart so I just repeated the cluster of leaves. I think it is very effective.

This rug is called "Day Flight" and was entered in the Traditional Pictorial category. Those of you that know me know that I love to hook pictorials and this one was really fun.

A close up of some of the town below the horses hoofs. The sheep in the pasture and the cross hatch fences are so small they hardly show in the picture but are very effective when you see the piece in person.

The ladies riding the horse are rather stylized but I think they turned out really cute. The outline of the wings and the streaks in the wings are done with gold thread. I rarely embellish my rugs but these wings seemed to need something special.

This is a large geometric rug, designed by Pearl McGown and called Postcard. I it made entirely from scraps left over from rugs already hooked. Like most hookers I have lots of "broken" swatches and it seemed perfect to use them in this rug. The rugs is slightly larger than 3 x 5. It is also three-dimensional depending on which direction you look at it. Very interesting to hook. I did not start out with a color plan, I just started hooking and this is the result. Don't throw away those scraps, you can make a lovely rug from them.

I took this closeup hoping that you could get a good idea of the dimensional effect.

This is Kris Kringle designed by Barb Carroll. I started this rug in Norma Batastini's class this spring. I'm sorry that I cannot seem to get dimension in my pictures. I sculpted all of the "fur" on his robe and hat as well as his beard. It is a very effective thing to do with pictorials. This piece was entered in the "seasonal Theme" category. I hooked the background in swirls to simulate a snow storm.

The closeup shows the beard and the fur on the hat. Hope you like the effect of the sculpting. It also shows the swirly background.

Last but certainly not least, I just have to show you this charming winner, hooked by my friend and neighbor, Barb Twigg.

There was a special category this year on love and friendship. Barb hooked this charming piece and mounted it as a pillow. What better expression of love and friendship could there be but a boy and his dog. It surely is a blue ribbon winner!

How could you not love that face. Congratulations Barb on this wonderful winning piece.

Hope that all of you have enjoyed this little rug show. Hope to see all of you next year at the fair.

Doris